Trent McCleary began playing hockey at a very young age and progressed up through the ranks of the Swift Current minor hockey system, starring with the Legionaires. At 16 he was called up for three games with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos. That set the stage for his making the team on a full-time basis in 1989-90. He played in 70 games in his rookie year, scoring three goals and 18 points. Although McCleary never became known for his offensive numbers in junior, he was a tenacious checker and was considered one of the top defensive forwards in the league in his final year with the club in 1992-93 when he suited up as an overage player. The Broncos were the top team in the west and moved on to represent the WHL at the Memorial Cup. They won their opening game against the eventual champions and hosts, the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds, but three consecutive losses eliminated them from the tournament.

McCleary was not drafted by any NHL team, but he did garner interest from several clubs and was signed as a free agent by the Ottawa Senators in October, 1992. In 1993-94 he played the majority of the year with the Thunder Bay Senators of the old Colonial League. The following year he played with the PEI Senators. In 1995-96 McCleary finally got his opportunity to play in the NHL, skating with the Ottawa Senators in 75 games. That summer he was traded to the Boston Bruins where he played for one year before being released.

McCleary went through a dry spell where he was unable to land a spot in the NHL, so he played in the IHL with the Detroit Vipers and Las Vegas Thunder. He was offered a free agent contract by the Montreal Canadiens in October, 1998 and played with the team for 46 games that year. McCleary's career came to an abrupt end during a game against Philadelphia on January 29, 2000 when he was hit in the throat with a puck. It was later revealed that the shot nearly killed him but the quick work of the on-site medical staff managed to save his life. McCleary had considered a comeback, but realized it was simply not feasible. In 192 NHL games he scored eight goals and 23 points.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1988-89

Swift Current Legionnaires

SMHL

34

12

12

24

85

1988-89

Swift Current Broncos

WHL

3

0

0

0

0

1989-90

Swift Current Broncos

WHL

70

3

15

18

43

4

1

0

1

0

1990-91

Swift Current Broncos

WHL

70

16

24

40

53

3

0

0

0

2

1991-92

Swift Current Broncos

WHL

72

23

22

45

190

8

1

2

3

16

1992-93

Swift Current Broncos

WHL

63

17

33

50

138

17

5

4

9

16

1992-93

New Haven Senators

AHL

2

1

0

1

6

1992-93

Swift Current Broncos

M-Cup

4

0

0

0

2

1993-94

P.E.I. Senators

AHL

4

0

0

0

6

1993-94

Thunder Bay Senators

ColHL

51

23

17

40

123

9

2

11

13

15

1994-95

P.E.I. Senators

AHL

51

9

20

29

60

9

2

3

5

26

1995-96

Ottawa Senators

NHL

75

4

10

14

68

-15

1996-97

Boston Bruins

NHL

59

3

5

8

33

-16

1997-98

Detroit Vipers

IHL

21

1

1

2

45

+1

1997-98

Las Vegas Thunder

IHL

54

7

6

13

120

-17

3

1

0

1

2

1998-99

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

46

0

0

0

29

-1

1999-00

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

12

1

0

1

4

+2

1999-00

Quebec Citadelles

AHL

27

7

9

16

56

NHL Totals

192

8

15

23

134

Signed as a free agent by Ottawa, October 9, 1992. Traded to Boston by Ottawa with Ottawa's 3rd round pick (Eric Naud) in 1996 NHL Draft for Shawn McEachern, June 22, 1996. Signed as a free agent by Montreal, October 9, 1998. Suffered career-ending throat injury in game vs. Philadelphia, January 29, 2000. Officially announced his retirement, September 20, 2000.